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HQ signs Piazza's 'addictive' novel inspired by great-grandmother's murder
HQ has acquired a new historical novel The Sicilian Inheritance from author Jo Piazza, inspired by the murder of her great-grandmother.
Publisher Manpreet Grewal acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Susan Armstrong at the C&W Agency on behalf of Pilar Queen at the United Talent Agency. The Sicilian Inheritance will be published in hardback, trade paperback, e-book and audio in April 2024.
The Sicilian Inheritance is inspired by the author’s own family and the murder of one her own relatives.
Piazza said: “This novel is my most personal book to date. It is loosely based on the murder of my great-grandmother, Lorenza, in Sicily more than 109 years ago. I’ve been working on this novel tirelessly for the past six years while having three kids and working on other books.
“Weaving together this Sicilian mystery has been a massive passion of mine and I can’t wait to bring it to UK readers. This is a perfect travel book, and I hope it completely transports readers to the beautiful, rugged, and delicious island of Sicily. Manpreet is the perfect editor for this to land with.”
The blurb reads: “When Sara Marsala’s beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, she leaves Sara a valuable piece of land in Sicily, but there’s a catch: if Sara wants to sell the land she must first uncover the truth about what happened to her great-grandmother, Serafina Marsala.
"Because Rosie didn’t think Serafina died of illness as the family lore has it. Rosie believed Serafina was murdered, and she wants Sara to prove it before she can claim the land as her own.”
The publisher added: “As Sara’s investigations progress, she learns more about Serafina, a headstrong young woman thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life for all the women of her small village.
"Yet a woman who challenges the status quo is never safe, and as Sara discovers more about Serafina, she comes up against the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother. And now they are threatening to destroy Sara too.”
Grewal said: “I love The Sicilian Inheritance so much, and I was blown away by Jo’s exploration of two fascinating women who, though separated by generations, battle the same misogyny and sexism that continue to plague women today."
She added: "With its feminist sensibilities and brilliant writing, it is in equal parts historical mystery, multi-generational family drama, and a love song to women everywhere, in every era. Addictive and ingenious, I hope this is a novel readers will recommend far and wide for generations to come.”
Armstrong said: “The dream book to devour on holiday, The Sicilian Inheritance is a compulsive mystery exploring the impact illicit love and devastating secrets have on one family across the generations.
“I’m delighted Jo’s incredible novel has landed with Manpreet and the fantastic team at HQ.”
Piazza is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author who has previously been published by HQ and Simon & Schuster UK. Her work has been published in 10 languages and 12 countries, and many of her books are currently in development for film and television. Her podcasts have had more than 25 million downloads and her work has appeared in a range of publications including Marie Claire, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
